Idahoans for Choice in Education

Expanding Educational Choice for Idaho Families

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR OTTER

Dear Governor Otter:

This morning's paper and in your State of the State Address, you included some significant points about what I have been involved in nearly all of my life.  For a good deal of that time many perceived me as being part of the problem rather than part of the solution, because I was a mainstream educator.  After 35 years as an educator I now believe I  am solidly involved in the solution to Idaho's k-12 education problems.  As you may or may not know I have been involved for the past 4 years with a Political Action Committee, Idahoans for Excellence in Education.  Recently we changed our name to "Idahoans for Choice in Education."     Why?  Because if we are to really make a difference in the performance of our schools, CHOICE will be the centerpiece!

I am sure you will agree with me that the only places in our society where there are huge problems are those places where markets are not allowed to work, or in other words where people are not allowed to make their own choices.  There are no market forces at work in our schools, as there is no incentive for teachers who work in our schools to produce the right results.  Salaries are based upon seniority rather than performance.  The single salary schedule, which is what we have in all of our schools today, where seniority and training are the sole determiners of salary is a toxic combination that ends to lower performance rather than increases it.  The reward for staying the teaching field does not exist!

We must find ways to support teachers who have discipline in the classroom, know what they are doing, enjoy what they are doing and be compensated reasonably for their performance.

We must find ways to give parents more choice in the education of their children.  Where parents have choice, or for that matter when anyone has choice, competition to supply that choice occurs and competition increases quality and keeps costs down.  Rich kids have always had choice.  The poor do not have that option!

Governor, you have suggested that you and Superintendent might appoint a select committee to make recommendations concerning school improvement.  That has occurred many times over the past 50 years or so and in every case those committees have produced a set of recommendations that simply tweaked the present system and in every case those recommendations have had little impact and are now on a shelf somewhere gathering dust! 

If the committee for which you are asking to come up with some recommendations for improvement, does not use the following as their "guiding light" little good will come of it.,

Recognize that the vast majority of Idaho parents want the right to determine where their kids go to school and when individuals are allowed to make choices, the results for everyone are better!

Finally, the nay sayers will tell you that we already have education choice, and more is not necessary or that it simply can't be improved.  It will be a difficult task but it can and must be done.  Our education system did not go into the "tank" overnight and we won't get out overnight either.  But we can start by looking at a host of options, including such controversial measurers as vouchers, tuition tax credits and scholarships for elementary and secondary students.  Also, improvements to our charter school law and corporate tax credits for student  scholarships and I am sure there are many other measures that could be used.  In any event, Idaho has not yet started to give parents the education options for their children that most want and deserve.

We appreciate having a Governor who understands and appreciates the importance  that results from giving individuals the power of CHOICE!

Sincerely,

Darrel Deide, Chairman

Idahoans for CHOICE in Education

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ICE-PAC

P.O. Box 933

Boise, ID 83701